Spain defeats France to reach World Cup final
Spain have secured their passage to the World Cup final following a commanding 2-0 triumph over France in Dallas on Tuesday afternoon, reports BritPanorama.
Luis de la Fuente’s European champions delivered a masterclass in tactical control, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting from the penalty spot during the opening period after Lucas Digne caught Lamine Yamal with a reckless challenge whilst attempting to clear.
Tottenham’s Pedro Porro then doubled the advantage shortly before the hour mark, combining neatly with Dani Olmo before finishing clinically at the near post.
The victory books Spain’s place in Sunday’s showpiece, where they will pursue only their second World Cup title. France arrived in Texas as tournament favourites, boasting the competition’s most potent attacking unit, yet their stellar forward line was rendered utterly ineffective.
Kylian Mbappe found himself completely shackled throughout proceedings, while Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and creative force Michael Olise were similarly nullified. The statistics painted a damning picture of French impotence. By the time Porro found the net, Les Bleus had managed merely two attempts at goal, neither troubling the goalkeeper.
Rodri orchestrated Spain’s midfield dominance, whilst defenders Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte swept up with consummate ease whenever France threatened to break. This comprehensive victory extended Spain’s extraordinary unbeaten sequence to 37 consecutive matches across all competitions, equalling the record for a European nation.
De la Fuente’s side have now defeated France in three successive knockout encounters, having previously overcome them in the Euro 2024 semi-finals and the Nations League last four in 2025. The reigning European champions are positioned to emulate their remarkable achievement of 2010, when they claimed both continental and global supremacy.
Having conceded just a single goal throughout the entire tournament, Spain’s defensive resilience has proven equally impressive as their attacking prowess. Didier Deschamps’ lengthy reign as France manager will conclude with Saturday’s third-place play-off in Miami, a dispiriting finale to 14 years at the helm.
Les Bleus had harboured ambitions of reaching a third consecutive final, but those hopes were comprehensively extinguished in the Texas heat. Spain now travel to New Jersey, where they await the victors of Wednesday’s second semi-final between England and Argentina.
Should the Three Lions prevail against the world champions, they would face the same Spanish side that defeated them in the Euro 2024 final two summers ago. For De la Fuente’s men, ultimate glory beckons.
As Spain marches on with purpose and determination, one can’t help but marvel at the tantalising prospect of a possible rematch with England—a fitting backdrop for two footballing titans in pursuit of the crown.
